The report added that both the 11.6-inch and the 13.3-inch iterations have been earmarked for the screen technology first utilised on the iPhone 4, before the 4S, 5, iPod touch and iPad 3 got in on the act.

Challenges

With all that in mind, it would hardly be a surprise if Apple decided to expand the operation to its sexiest portable computer.

The challenge for designers would be finding a way to keep the MacBook Air's super-slim proportions in check due to the thicker display size and larger battery that'd likely be needed to enable a Retina Display.

The report also claimed that the next-gen Airs will be upgraded internally with the forthcoming Intel Haswell processors, but those upgrades could push the already-considerable price up into MacBook Pro territory.